Running back is a brutal, fickle position in the NFL. It boasts the shortest lifespan of any skill position in an offense. In terms of average contract value, only punters make less money than the guys who anchor down in the backfield.
Being an effective runner means combining nearly impossible levels of vision, speed and athleticism with the endurance to take 15 to 20 tackles per game and also handle blitz pickup duties on your off plays. It’s grueling, demanding work. And it’s such an overstocked position that every other player on the field on downs one through three likely gets paid better than the running back, who’ll be the focus of the play roughly 45 percent of the time.
This creates volatility. While exceptions exist, the lifespan of an elite runner’s time atop the league could fit inside the reign of a one-term U.S. president. Over the past decade, no running back has been a first-team All-Pro more than twice. While that list includes the long career of Adrian Peterson, it also features the steep dropoffs of Todd Gurley and Le’Veon Bell.
There are a few names that could join both sides of that equation in 2022. Last fall was the backdrop for disappointing performances from established stars like Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, and Ezekiel Elliott. Their places atop an underappreciated mountain of tailbacks are in question. But who would be capable of taking their place?
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